Through my Insurance, I can get a CPAP machine, only the Insurance requires I "rent" it for 8 months.

My DME said if I paid extra, I can get a better model.

I was looking at getting a AutoPap machine. I'd have to pay another $400 on top of what my Insurance covers to get it.

But here's the dilemma:

Since I am "renting" it through my insurance, even if I pay 400 dollars, I do not own the machine. Is this correct? The Insurance company owns it. So if the Insurance company decides I no longer need to CPAP machine, what happens to my 400 dollars? Do they just take the machine away from me?

If so, what should I do? Just stick with the basic CPAP machine?

Hi - before I would pay any "out of pocket" expenses on my own, I would want to do some research on the kinds of machines the DME is suggesting.  This sounds like an upsell on the part of the DME to me.

What kinds of machines/masks are they recommending?  I find this board will give you a lot of good feedback on different equipment brands.

You are not going to get an AutoPap machine unless your doc has scripted one for you!  The DME cannot "upgrade" unless your script calls for the upgrade, your insurance company will then pay whatever their share is for the machine you get.  You need to have a conversation with your sleep doc about what machine you want scripted vs what the doc wants you to have.  Irregardless of what machine you want, it's the doc's script that will be the prevailing thing.  FYI...I'm not getting warm and fuzzy from this DME.


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OSA Sleep Test 8/29/07, AHI 64, Sat. 74%
Titrated 10/1/07, Pressure 13
BiPAP Auto M Series w/Humidifier, set at 13/8
OptiLife Nasal Pillow Mask

You can buy a new auto PAP for not much more than $400; depending upon your deductible it may be cheaper to buy one.  You can get a new IntelliPAP AutoAdjust CPAP or GoodKnight 420E for $475 or an M Series Auto C-Flex CPAP Machine is $549.00 from an online provider.

Can someone tell me which Online Retailer I can buy it from? please? Id' rather do it that way than use a DME.

If it's against the rules to post a link, can you PM me with it? Thanks.

At the top of this forum is a sticky: "Equipment Pricing Guide". Check out those links. Also: keep in mind that both Respironics and Resmed have recently instituted MAPs (minimum advertised pricing) for online DME suppliers. So don't just accept the prices you see posted. E-mail or call the online DME supplier via their toll-free number and ask about any "unadvertised specials" or "unadvertised sale prices" on any Resmed or Respironics products you are interested in. Its just not as easy to "price compare" these two brands as it was prior to their MAPs.

Respironics and Resmed are the two leading xPAP manufacturers w/about 80% of the US market. Outside of Puritan Bennett's GoodKnight 420E autoPAP Respironics and Resmed are the only manufactuers to produce fully data capable CPAPs. To most of us who frequent these forums it is VERY important to be able to monitor our therapy results via a fully data capable CPAP. And frankly, if we are having problems w/adjusting to CPAP therapy, w/o a fully data capable CPAP our sleep doctors haven't a clue as to why and can only make adjustments to our therapy by guess or by gosh or by another expensive titration study. I have no respect for any sleep doctor who allows their patients to be provided w/ANYTHING OTHER THAN a fully data capable CPAP "except" in the case of a patient w/no insurance or very poor insurance and limited means.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed's new VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro mask, ResScan 3.4 software, SPO 7500 oximeter.

Thanks, I am interested in this model:


M Series Auto CPAP with A-Flex
M Series Heated Humidifier
Respironics EncoreViewer Software 1.0
Encore Smart Card Reader - USB


Is this a good model to get? If I purchase this from online, should I use my insurance? Or just pay it out of my pocket?  I'm concerned about the 8 month "renting" requirement my Insurance demands.


Also, do you know if the Software allows us to SET the Pressure? Thanks!

The Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex is a top of the line autoPAP. However, the M Series is notorious for a very poorly designed integrated humidifier that "could" cause damage to the autoPAP despite a revision. Respironics has JUST come out w/a new design but whether you get the NEW integrated humidifier would be a !@#! shoot given Respironics isn't recalling the previous integrated humidifiers.

The EncoreViewer software is specifically FOR patients and does NOT allow one to change their pressure settings via the software. However, instructions on how to change your pressure yourself are spread all over the internet.

To my knowledge there is only one online DME supplier that works w/insurances. I could be wrong. If you opt to pay outta pocket and buy online be SURE to specifically ask WHICH integrated M Series humidifier you would be getting. The newest release just w/in the past month??

If you don't travel by air much I would recommend you get the Fisher & Paykel HC 150 stand alone heated humidifier w/the Respironics M Series Auto w/A-flex instead of the M Series integrated humidifier.

You COULD ask your insurance whether you are considered "in network" if you purchase your CPAP out of pocket and submit a PAID INVOICE W/PROPER HCPCS codes for reimbursement. Some very few insurance companies do.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed's new VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro mask, ResScan 3.4 software, SPO 7500 oximeter.

I get my CPAPs through CPAP.com and the prices I quoted are from them.  For the Respironics prices you have to click on a link and give them your email address, they will email your the real price.  They also give a package discount if you buy the machine and humidifier together.  You can call them and ask if they are shipping the new style humidifier.  Their price on the HC150 is $149.00

There are a number of other suppliers, some of which I have used for masks and other supplies.  It seems that cpap.com has good prices on CPAPs, but there are other online places that sell masks and other stuff for less money than cpap.com.  For filters (they also have great prices on hoses), I use CPAPFiltersandSupplies.com.  

The company that I had used for masks, Island Wide Respiratory, has jacked their prices WAY up on their web site, and their website doesn't show a way to get the real price; I called them and they said that they can give a better price than is shown on their website if you email them or call them.

CrohnieToo wrote:

However, the M Series is notorious for a very poorly designed integrated humidifier that "could" cause damage to the autoPAP despite a revision.

Can you explain this in more detail?


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Respironics Auto M Series, Pressure: 12 cm
Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 Nasal Pillows
My Sleep Blog

The original M Series integrated humidifers leaked even into the CPAP. Respironics did a recall. The "fix" is temperamental with installation and if you are one who empties and cleans your humidifer tank every day the seal can be difficult and run into problems w/leaking onto your nightstand . They've since come out w/yet a new "fix", this time w/some true redesign including some changes to the power brick. But they aren't exchanging them, they have to be bought, and I"m not even sure if they fit on the earlier M Series CPAPs. I've just read about this, there's a thread by akccpapguy about this at the cpaptalk dot com apnea forum. I have Resmeds, not Respironics.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed's new VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro mask, ResScan 3.4 software, SPO 7500 oximeter.

I'm not sure how it could leak since the water level is below the seal. Does the airflow force water against the seal? My wife has one of the new humidifiers, and it looks like the bottom half is identical to mine. The top half is completely different, creating a different airflow path.

I didn't notice any changes to the power brick, but I didn't look that closely, either.

Thanks for the info.


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Respironics Auto M Series, Pressure: 12 cm
Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 Nasal Pillows
My Sleep Blog

M Series Auto CPAP with A-Flex
M Series Heated Humidifier
Respironics EncoreViewer Software 1.0
Encore Smart Card Reader - USB

I've decided to puchase the M Series Auto-Bundle from the online retailer. It includes the heater, and the Software. The person I spoke to said, that you can set the Pressure yourself, or it has the instructions in the booklet. Is this true?

It'd be really fantastic if I could set the pressure myself. Then I could self-diagonose instead of going to the doctor.


Does anyone have and use this model? is it easy to set up and use?  Since I am not buying this through a DME, I have to set it up myself.

That's the same equipment I have. I think the online CPAP supply companies typically include the provider setup instructions since they don't do the setup themselves. It is easy to do.


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Respironics Auto M Series, Pressure: 12 cm
Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 Nasal Pillows
My Sleep Blog

HeirloomGardener wrote:

That's the same equipment I have. I think the online CPAP supply companies typically include the provider setup instructions since they don't do the setup themselves. It is easy to do.

Awesome! That's the ideal situation for us Sleep Sufferers. I can't wait to get my machine now...